Nintendo Releases New Wii U Content: Top 10 Facts You Need to Know

During today’s Nintendo Direct online broadcast, the video game company released tons of details regarding its upcoming releases for the Wii U console.

Here’s what you should know about Nintendo’s upcoming video game console content:

1. Two New Zelda Games Are Coming Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma gave fans new information on the next installment in the long running series. Aounuma alluded to a “new style” for the game’s visual presentation and his team’s “returning to basics” template for the HD sequel. The Zelda team is in the process of “rethinking the convention of Zelda,” such as dungeons and single player gameplay. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is getting remade for the Wii U. New Wii U Gamepad functionality will be added this time around, plus the game can only be played with the Gamepad. The original game’s graphics will receive a visual upgrade. This Zelda remake is slated for release in August 2013.
2. Nintendo’s E3 2013 Plans Are Set in StoneSatoru Iwata, the current president of Nintendo, took the time to speak about Nintendo’s E3 2013 plans. The company is planning to unveil a new Mario Kart, a new 3D Mario game and the Wii U/3DS version of the next Super Smash Bros game. Each game will also be playable by show attendees at E3 in June.
3. A New Game Starring Yoshi is on the Way
A brand new game starring Yoshi, which is under the supervision of Yoshi’s Story and Yoshi’s Island director Takashi Tezuka, is being made. This upcoming title will feature the same visual style of Kirby’s Epic Yarn. Unsurprisingly, the new Yoshi game will be titled Yarn Yoshi.
4. The Makers of Xenoblade Chronicles Are Developing a New RPGMonolith Soft, the developers behind WiiRPGXenoblade Chronicles, is slated to create a new RPG game for the Wii U. The game’s trailer hints at a visual style that is reminiscent of the studio’s last game.
5. Wii U Party is Incoming
Nintendo also went on to reveal that Wii U Party, a Wii U minigame compilation, is also on its way to the console this summer. A dice-rolling game and two-player baseball were both shown during the game’s appearance on the Nintendo Direct video.
6. Fire Emblem & Shin Megami Tensei Are Teaming Up
Two major Japanese RPG franchises, Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei, will be featured together in a crossover title. Development teams Intelligent Systems and Atlus will be handling creative duties for the game.
7. Platinum Games is Making New Titles for the Wii UPlatinum Games is working on two, new action-heavy Wii U games. The Wonderful 101, a strategy game similar to the Pikmin series, is coming this summer. Bayonetta 2, the sequel to the first frantic action game, is also being developed.
8. The Virtual Console is Coming to the Wii U
Nintendo’s Virtual Console will head to the Wii U in April of this year. Several NES and SNES games will be available at launch. Pricing per game will lie around the $5 mark. For those people who wish to repurchase their Virtual Console games, they can unlock it on the Wii U for $1. The games will then become compatible with the Gamepad peripheral.
9. Miiverse Updates Are Coming
The Wii U’s Miiverse will soon allow people to develop their own social communities and make room for more than one community per game. The Miiverse will also become compatible with smartphones and PC sometime later this year.
10. New Wii U Games Are Coming SoonGame & Wario, Wii Fit U, Pikmin 3, LEGO City Undercover and The Wonderful 101 are slated for release from spring to summer 2013.